The UK singles chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK singles chart during 1997, as well as singles which peaked in 1996 and 1998 but were in the top 10 in 1997. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

Two hundred and twenty-eight singles were in the top ten in 1997. Ten singles from 1996 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. "Angels" by Robbie Williams and "Never Ever" by All Saints were both released in 1997 but did not reach their peak until 1998. Sixty-four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1997. All Saints, Aqua, Daft Punk, Natalie Imbruglia and No Doubt were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1997.

Elton John recorded a reworking of his 1973 single "Candle in the Wind as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in 1997. Released as a double-A side with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" and spending five weeks at number-one, it sold almost 4.8 million copies and remains (as of 2018) the best-selling single of all-time. The other major event to impact the charts in 1997 was the passing of The Notorious B.I.G. A tribute song by Puff Daddy, the rapper's wife Faith Evans and R&B group 112, "I'll Be Missing You" which sampled The Police's "Every Breath You Take", ranked as the third best-selling single of the year.

The 1996 Christmas number-one, "2 Become 1" by Spice Girls, remained at number-one for the first two weeks of 1997. The first new number-one single of the year was "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" by Tori Amos. Overall, twenty-four different singles peaked at number-one in 1997, with Spice Girls (4) having the most singles hit that position.

Background Multiple entries Two-hundred and twenty-eight singles charted in the top 10 in 1997, with two-hundred and sixteen singles reaching their peak this year.

Sixty-four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1997. U2 frontman Bono and the five members of Boyzone shared the record for the most top ten singles in 1997 with five hit singles each. Four of Bono's entries were with the band, the most successful of which was the number-one hit "Discothèque" in February. "Staring at the Sun" peaked at number 3 in April, "Please" made number 7 in September and "Last Night on Earth" reached number 10 in July. His other appearance was on the BBC charity single for Children in Need, "Perfect Day", alongside artists such as Boyzone, David Bowie, Elton John and the original composer of the song Lou Reed. The song entered the chart in November and spent 3 weeks at number-one, and 9 weeks in the top 10. Along with U2, eight other acts had four singles in the top 10: 911, Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, Brett Anderson (from the britpop band Suede), George Michael, Spice Girls and Texas

No Doubt were one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Don't Speak". All Saints, Daft Punk, Jon Bon Jovi, Oasis and Toni Braxton were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1997.

Chart debuts Eighty-five artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1997, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, fourteen went on to record another hit single that year: All Saints, The Course, Daft Punk, DJ Quicksilver, Eels, Hanson, Kavana, Mansun, No Doubt, No Mercy, The Notorious B.I.G., Orbital, The Seahorses and Shola Ama. Sash! and The Verve both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.

Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entriesOrbital2"Satan Live"3"The Saint" (3)Kavana2"I Can Make You Feel Good"8"MFEO" (8)1"People Hold On"4—No Mercy2"Where Do You Go"2"Please Don't Go" (4)White Town1"Your Woman"1—Placebo1"Nancy Boy"4—Blue Boy1"Remember Me"8—Mansun2"She Makes My Nose Bleed"9"Closed for Business" (10)Eels2"Novocaine for the Soul"10"Susan's House" (9)No Doubt2"Don't Speak"1"Just a Girl" (3)Daft Punk2"Da Funk"/"Musique"7"Around the World" (5)DJ Kool1"Let Me Clear My Throat"8—Sash!3"Encore une fois"2"Ecuador" (2), "Stay" (2)Bush1"Swallowed"7—DJ Quicksilver2"Bellissima"4"Free" (7)B-Real1"Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)"8—Herbie1"Gotta Be You"10—Smoke City1"Underwater Love"4—Makaveli1"To Live & Die in L.A."10—2"Ready or Not"5"Ain't Nobody" (8)Shola Ama2"You Might Need Somebody"4"You're the One I Love" (3)1"Lovefool"2—Republica1"Drop Dead Gorgeous"7—2"Hypnotize"10"Mo Money Mo Problems" (6)2"Love is the Law"3"Blinded by the Sun" (7)Olive1"You're Not Alone"1—North & South1"I'm a Man Not a Boy"7—Andrea Bocelli1"Time to Say Goodbye"2—BeBe Winans1"I Wanna Be the Only One"1—Rosie Gaines1"Closer than Close"4—Hanson2"MMMBop"1"Where's the Love" (4)Sneaker Pimps1"6 Underground" 9—Toby Bourke1"Waltz Away Dreaming"10—Ultra Naté1"Free"4—Mr. President1"Coco Jamboo"8—Az Yet1"Hard to Say I'm Sorry"7—Foxy Brown1"I'll Be" 9—Jay-ZPuff Daddy1"I'll Be Missing You"1—Faith Evans1123"Bitter Sweet Symphony"2"The Drugs Don't Work" (1), "Lucky Man" (7)40 Thevz1"C U When U Get There"3—Gala1"Freed from Desire"2—Marsha Ambrosius1"Piece of My Heart"7—Babyface1"How Come, How Long"10—Changing Faces1"G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T."10—Meredith Brooks1"Bitch"6—Chumbawamba1"Tubthumping"2—Tina Moore1"Never Gonna Let You Go"7—All Saints2"I Know Where It's At"4"Never Ever" (1)Ginuwine1"When Doves Cry"10—Finley Quaye1"Even After All"10—Ricky Martin1"María"6—Portishead1"All Mine" 8—Dario G1"Sunchyme"2—Bellini1"Samba de Janeiro"8—Q-Tip1"Got 'til It's Gone"6—Joni MitchellLa Trec1"Stay"2—Propellerheads1"On Her Majesty's Secret Service"7—David ArnoldAqua1"Barbie Girl"1—1"You've Got a Friend"9—Natalie Imbruglia1"Torn"2—Embrace1"All You Good Good People (EP)"8—PF Project1"Choose Life"6—Ewan McGregorBurning Spear1"Perfect Day"1—Courtney PineDr. JohnEmmylou HarrisEvan DandoLesley GarrettRobert CraySkye EdwardsThomas AllenVisual Ministry ChoirSteven Houghton1"Wind Beneath My Wings"3—Lutricia McNeal1"Ain't That Just the Way"6—Aaron Carter1"Crush on You"9—Teletubbies1"Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!""1—Five1"Slam Dunk (Da Funk)"10—Mase1"Feel So Good"10—

Notes Makaveli was a pseudonym used by the late Tupac Shakur, who had charted at number six under the name 2Pac in 1996 with "California Love", alongside Dr. Dre. The Seahorses was formed by former The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire. His old group had debuted in 1989 with "Fools Gold"/"What the World is Waiting For", a number 8 hit.

"Midnight in Chelsea" was Jon Bon Jovi's first single to make an impact without his bandmates, peaking at number four. He had a second hit single this year, "Queen of New Orleans", which reached number 10. Will Smith first made the chart in the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince using his character name from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The single "Men in Black" was the first time he charted under his own name.

The "Perfect Day" charity single brought together musicians and performers from across entertainment, both established and new to the UK charts but performing as this line-up for the first time. The solo artists with previous chart credits were David Bowie, Elton John, Gabrielle, Joan Armatrading, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Tammy Wynette, and Tom Jones. Several artists had made the charts with their groups before, including Bono (U2), Brett Anderson (Suede), Heather Small (M People), Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals), Ian Broudie (The Lightning Seeds), Shane MacGowan (The Pogues), as well as Keith Duffy, Michael Graham, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately (all Boyzone). Additionally, conductor Andrew Davis, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, string group Brodsky Quartet, soprano saxophone player Courtney Pine and tenor horn player Sheona White all played on the track.

Songs from films Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Ain't Nobody" and "Love Rollercoaster" (from Beavis & Butthead Do America), "Rumble in the Jungle" (When We Were Kings), "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" (Space Jam), "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (Evita), "The Saint" (The Saint), "Lovefool" (Romeo + Juliet), "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" and "Gotham City" (Batman & Robin), "Men in Black" (Men in Black), "James Bond Theme" (Tomorrow Never Dies), "You Sexy Thing" (The Full Monty) and "Spice Up Your Life" and "Too Much" (Spiceworld: The Movie).

Charity singles

Best-selling singles Elton John had the best-selling single of the year with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997". The song spent thirteen weeks in the top 10 (including five weeks at number one), sold over 4.77 million copies and was certified 8× platinum by the BPI. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua came in second place, selling more than 1.5 million copies and losing out by around 3.27 million sales. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112's "I'll Be Missing You", "Perfect Day" from Various Artists and "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!" " by Teletubbies made up the top five. Singles by Will Smith, No Doubt, Natalie Imbruglia, Spice Girls and Chumbawamba were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.

"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" (1) was ranked as the best-selling single of the decade, while "Barbie Girl" (4), "Perfect Day" (6) and "I'll Be Missing You" (9) were all ranked in the top 10 best-selling singles of the 1990s. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" also stands as the biggest-selling single of all time in the UK (as of July 2018).

Top-ten singles Key SymbolMeaning‡Single peaked in 1996 but still in chart in 1997.♦Single released in 1997 but peaked in 1998.(#)Year-end top-ten single position and rankEnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.